How to Distinguish the Scams from the Legitimate Online Survey Companies?

Make no mistake, getting paid for taking online surveys is a reality as well as great way to generate an income, but how do you distinguish the scams from the legitimate survey companies?

If you could simply sign up with a survey company and get paid again and again just for answering simple surveys, how many times would you do that a day?

As often as possible would probably be your answer but the real questions, however, are;

1. Is this a legitimate online survey company?
2. and if so, will there be enough surveys, focus groups and mystery shopping assignments available to make it worth while?

Whilst it's obvious that doing online surveys etc. is an easy and hassle free way of making some extra cash or a steady income, there have been quite a few Online Survey companies offering just that but unfortunately they have failed dismally by not delivering on their promises and duped many unsuspecting internet users...

For these survey companies to be able to offer their subscribers enough surveys, focus groups and shopping assignments, they obviously need to negotiate deals with a number of big corporate companies that need this type of market research and coordinate all the data & subscribers.

Therefore, some of the less reputable companies offering "online survey work for money" are unable to provide enough assignments for their subscribers who end up with no paying assignments or in some cases they won't pay for the surveys you've submitted, won't respect your privacy and you may be swamped with unwanted ads & e-mail.

So now that we've established the fact that Paid Online Surveys are big business, how do you actually distinguish the scams from the legitimate survey companies?

The legitimate ones will generally comply with the following;

Your privacy will always be respected & your e-mail not revealed to spammers or the like


Your personal details, or responses and communications with the company will never be disclosed to anyone outside the research industry without your permission


Payment will not be extorted from you under the guise of research


Your choice whether to participate in a survey, focus group, assignment or to simply discontinue your
participation will be respected without question


Payment for your participation will be made timorously


You won't find "hidden" clauses in their Terms & Conditions that allows them to sell or distribute your personal information

It's a pity that the scammers have shed a cloud over the paid online survey industry as there are still genuine opportunities for many people to earn decent money from doing them.

Find out more about how you can get paid well for taking surveys supplied by legitimate online survey companies...

Mark Bellinger, a university graduate, is a successful businessman and entrepreneur exploring legitimate and lucrative internet opportunities and ways to make extra cash from online surveys